UPDATED June 5, 2025
Well, we got some good news and bad news about Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year. The good news is that an ENTIRE new land themed around Monsters, Inc. is coming to the park — and it will feature the ride we’ve always dreamed of — a ride based on the doors chase scene in the movie! YES!!!
Muppets Courtyard in Hollywood Studios
But then we started wondering, where exactly would this new land go? Well, Disney gave us some bad news recently because we also learned this new land would be replacing Muppets Courtyard, closing Muppet*Vision 3D. BUT then we got good news AGAIN because Disney also announced Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is getting a new Muppets theme. Yes, we’ve been in a whirlwind of “Sweet Emotion” lately! BUT that means Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will have to close…so when will that happen?
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith has been at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since 1999. The ride’s grand opening was an invitation-only party where some lucky guests got an opportunity ride the coaster WITH members of Aerosmith (you can see a photo of this event at the ride’s exit just outside the gift shop). The ride features onboard sound, a fun pre-show with Aerosmith, and a launch that can take you from 0 to 57 mph in less than three seconds.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
The coaster features trains designed to look like limos with each train having a special license plate that indicates which Aerosmith song you’ll hear during your ride. Songs include “Walk This Way,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Dude (Looks Like A Lady),” and more.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
In order for Disney to re-theme the ride, we know it will have to close. So let’s take a look at when that might happen. Construction on the new Monsters, Inc. land will begin in 2025. To that end, a phased closure of the Grand Avenue area began in May, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, Muppet*Vision 3D, and PizzeRizzo have all closed permanently. On June 8th, the former Muppets Courtyard was walled off and closed.
Former Muppets Courtyard blocked
EDITOR’S UPDATE: Disney has provided more information on the timeline since this post was originally published, and the text below has been edited accordingly.
Over the weekend of the Muppets Courtyard closure, however, Disney revealed some major news regarding the transformation of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Disney announced that Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets will come to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2026!
©Disney
With this announcement, Disney also shared that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will remain open through all of 2025. An official closing date has not yet been announced, but we will update this post as soon as more information is revealed.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
That means you still have plenty of time to enjoy the Aerosmith version of the ride if you want! The official 2026 closing date has not yet been announced, but we will update this post as soon as more information is revealed.
Stay tuned to DFB for more.
Disney Adults Are Divided On the Permanent Closure of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
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You have a different definition of “Good news” than I do. “…then we got good news AGAIN because Disney also announced Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is getting a new Muppets theme”. There is nothing remotely “Rockin” about any Muppet or group of Muppets. Don’t get me wrong. I love the Muppets, but they have their own place in the grand scheme, which tends to be more sedate or low energy. It is a monumental stretch to retheme a high-energy anything as Muppet oriented. Maybe Aerosmith is dated. We could debate that. But replacing a high-energy-themed, high-energy ride with a low-energy-themed, now probably low-energy ride is a mistake. Disney doesn’t have enough high-energy rides to start with. Now we will get another milk-toast ride.